Apparatus for contacting gases and liquids to effect concentration, fractionation, and the like



July 10, w BLQQMER ETAL APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING GASES AND LIQUIDS TO EFFECT CONCENTRATION, FRACTIONATION AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 12, 1950 a 4 INVENTORS Mara! .[fi/flamr BY 572M312 64.9

A NEY Patented July 10, 1951 APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING GASES AND LIQUIDS TO EFFECT CONCENTRATION,

FRACTIONATION, AND THE LIKE Ward J. Bloomer, Westfield, N. J., and Bruce R. Wright, Lakewood, Ohio, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Centrifix Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1950, Serial No. 138,128

6 Claims. (Cl. 183-21) This invention relates to an improvement in fixed centrifugal devices of the type heretofore used 'for contacting gases and liquids to effect concentration, fractionating or the like, and more particularly, of the type illustrated and described in United States Patent Number 2,189,491 dated February 6, 1940 to Charles Gilbert Hawley. It is an improvement on and modification of the invention disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 59,719 filed November 12, 1948 in the name of Ward 'J. Bloomer.

Fixed centrifugal devices of the type under consideration comprise essentially an element termed a tuyere, a cylindrical form and presenting a circumferential series of tangential blades extending upwardly from the bottom of the element and forming narrow passages between them. In contacting'a liquid with a gas, for example, the liquid is fed to the closed end of the tuyere and the gas is introduced through the narrow passages between the tangential blades at a high velocity. The gas thus enters the tuyretangentially and hence within the tuyere travels circumferentially and longitudinally of the axis thereof, picking up and dispersing the liquid in fine particles within its whirling stream or vortex. The particles of liquid in the whirling stream of ga are next consolidated in an imperforate ring into which the tuyere discharges, and the liquid is then thrown out by the centrifugal efiect, collected and drained away from the gas.

In the operation of such a device, the whirling stream of gas and particles of liquid within the tuyre travel vertically, as well as circumferentially toward the imperforate ring, into which the tuyre discharges, or which in effect constitutes a continuation of the tuyre. On reaching the imperforate ring the liquid particles coalesce into a mass or stream due to the centrifugal force exerted on the liquid particles which are held to the wall of the ring by the centrifugal force exerted on them. The liquid, on reaching the upper edge of the ring, is released and discharged upwardly and laterally into a collecting chamber under the forces producing the upward spiraling movement of the. gas and liquid in the tuyere and by which the liquid is raised, admixed with the gas and carried through the tuyere.

In accordance with the present invention, we

'propose to invert the tuyere whereby upwardly end, and the unit may be installed in series or parallel, or both, as in a fractionating column.

While broadly, our invention contemplates an improved method and apparatus ior contacting all liquids and gases, a primary object of our invention is to utilize a series of fixed inverted centrifugal tuyeres in a suitable column for the fractional distillation of mixed component materials.

Having now indicated in a general way, the nature and purpose of this invention, we will proceed with a detailed description of preferred forms of embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly broken away, showing adaptation of the tuyeres to apparatus for fractionating mixed component materials. i i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section of the improved form of a fixed centrifugal device and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 4 is a detailed horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, the fractionating column is indicated generally atllland is provided with a series of decks 12, 12a, l2b,'an'd I20 in each of which is mounted one or more tuyres generally indicated at M. The space between the decks l2 represented by the chambers it, I8, 20 and 22 is largely vapor space.

In a typical unit, a petroleum charge is preheated in a suitable heater, not shown, and may be introduced at 24 to a liquid-vapor separator generally indicated at 26, which may beof any desired type. In such unit, the unflashed liquid, cooled by evaporation, falls to the bottom of the separator and may be introduced by the line 28 to intermediate tuyere Mb. The flashed vapors from the separator enter vapor space 20 above the tuyre Mb through line 30.

In a typical fractionation unit, a series of decks, each having the tuyeres l4 accomplish a small temperature change on the mixed component material so that ultimately the vapors, denuded of heavy components, are removed through the ,overhead vapor outlet 32, and these vapors in turn may pass through a condenser 34 with reflux condensate returned to the top tuyere l4 through the line 36, and the net condensate discharged through the line 38.

At the same time, the heavier liquid components are concentrated and collected in the lowermost chamber 40 the liquid level being maintained at a desired level by suitable liquid level s a ow? control means not shown. Usually an external reboiler 42 is provided to add heat to drive oil light ends from the collected liquid, such reboiler being supplied with steam or other heating medium through line 44. The hot vapors discharged from the reboiler 42 are returned to the vapor space 40 below the lowest tuyere. Net bottoms product is removed through the line 46.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the twere I4 is generally of cylindrical form and fabricated from any suitable material, as for example, sheet metal or alloys, as necessary. The particular tuyere II has an imperiorate top 50, and is supported in an inverted position by mounting the imperforate portion 52 of the side wah on the deck Ila. The deck l2a may be recessed below a second apertured partition indicated at 54, such partition being provided with a vertical upwardly open chimney 56. The ar rangement is such that liquid passing down through the down pipe 58 or entering the liquid chamber between the deck and partition through the reflux line 36 or the initial feed line 28, will surround the imperforate wall 52 and will rise to a suitable level such as above the bottom of the blades ill.

The upper portion of the tuyere l4 presents a circumferential series of closely spaced tangential blades Bl forming narrow passages 82 between them, and which extend vertically from adjacent the imperforate portion 52 to the closed top 50. These blades may be readily formed by slitting and bending from the wall of the tuyere and they may be straight and uniform as shown, or enlarged at the bottom as shown in the copending application of Bloomer referred to, and they may be either of the single bank or multiple bank type.

In operation, the upwardly rising vapors which enter the open lower end of the tuyere M will move outwardly through the blade openings thereby creating a rotary motion within the chimney 56. This will induce and entrain liquid surrounding the tuyere to establish a highly intimate mix. As a result, some of the lighter ends of the feed liquid are vaporized whereas heavier ends are maintained in a liquid condi-- tion with the result that the movement will throw out the liquid from the vapors as the mixture discharges over the curved edge 56a. of the chimney.

It is found that the lip 56a. is of particular advantage in the removal of liquid from the vapors discharging from the chimney 56. Not only is it an aid in coalescing and carrying off the liquid and preventin reentrainment, but it also materially aids in the efllciency of separation which is materially effected by the velocity of gases or vapors through the tuyre blades. With a high velocity, there is a greater tendency of reentrainment unless the lip and its curved shape is utilized. Generally we find it desirable to maintain a curvature which is substantially semi-circular and with a radius of not less than A inch on a chimney of 3 inches in diameter and with approximately double the radius on a chimney of double the diameter.

In operation, we find it desirable to maintain a gas velocity of not less than 30 feet per second through'the blades and preferably of the order of 50 to 60 feet per second through the blades to establish the desired mixing and to effectively carry the liquid upward through the chimney and over the lip so that it may in turn pass downward through the external downcomer 58a.

In a typical construction, the tuyere had a nominal diameter of 7 inches utilizing 50 blades, the width of which was 0.39 inch forming a blade openin of 2?: of an inch. The blade area 0! .25 square foot was approximately 94% of the tuyere cross sectional area. The total height of the tuyere was 7 inches and with 1200 cubic feet per minute of air it was possible to pick up 1400 gallons per hour of water.

It will be appreciated that one or the advantages of the construction shown in Fig. 2 as more particularly applied to Fig. l, is that assuming a uniform pressure drop between chambers l5, i8, 20 and 22 of 6 inches of water, which is approximately that required for the necessary mixing. the pressure drop between chambers I. and I8 is thus only 6 inches or water, and the liquid in the downcomer 58 need only overcome this pressure, inasmuch as the liquid which passes down from the space outside of the chimney enters an area exposed to the pressure within the chamber it. In this case, the liquid does not pass through the tuyre. The vapors, however, may pass unhindered directly upward from chamber 20 through the tuyere Ila to induce the liquid into the desired vortical path. Only the envelope pressure drop hm to be overcome.

A modified form of tuyere is shown in Fig. 3, such tuyere being generally indicated at I and similarly having the closed top a and the closely spaced tangential blades 65 forming the narrow passages in the side. In this case, the open end of the tuyere is mounted in liquid tight relation with the secondary partition it across .the column which is above the deck lie. The

In this construction, the liquid which passes downward through the downcomer 58!) will fill the space between the deck l2c-and the partition 66 and will rise to such a level that it may be entrained by the gases or vapors passing through the deck opening ll. The vapors will then carry the liquid through the blades for the desired mixing with the ultimate discharge over the lip 56a of the chimney 56 as in the prior case.

There is a diilerence, however, in the operation. As shown in the lower part of Fig. 1, the difference in pressure between the chamber II and the chamber 49 includes the pressure drop between two decks instead of one, and it is thus necessary to have a greater seal height to prevent the loss of vapors through the downcomer. In other words, feeding the liquid inside the tuyere has the disadvantage of forcing the reflux seal to balance the entire drop through the tuyere, instead of only the centrifugal force zone. It has the advantage however, of giving a greater mixing eil'ect as the liquid and vapors pass through the blades.

Our invention is applicable to various mixing and separating operations and we therefore desire a broad interpretation thereof within the scope and spirit of the description hereof and of the claims appended thereinafter.

' We claim:

1. In combination with a chamber having a transverse deck and a second transverse partition thereabove, a fixed centrifugal device comprising a cylindrical shell closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, said lower end being in gas tight sealed relation with the lower transverse deck. said fixed centrifugal device having a series of tangentially extending blades disposed circumferentially of said shell, forming between them a series of passages extending vertically from the open end for the entry of a vapor into said shell, a cylindrical chimney surrounding said fixed centrifugal device in gas tight sealed relation to the upper transverse partition and forming a mixing chamber between said fixed centrifugal device and said chimney, and upwardly extending curved integral with the open end of the chimney, means to draw ofi liquid from the space surrounding the chimney, and

means to feed liquid into the vapor path for the mixing therewith.

2. A fluid mixing device of the class described in claim 1 in which the liquid surrounds the inside of the tuyere.

3. A fluid mixing device of the class described in claim 1 in which the liquid surrounds the outside of the tuyere.

4. In a fluid mixing device, the combination comprising a cylindrical tuyre having a solid top wall, a side wall provided with a plurality of blades forming inwardly convergent gas paths the bottom of the tuyere being open, a fluid container having a side wall surrounding the lower portion of said tuyere side wall, means for continuously feeding a fluid to said container, and means for supplying a gas current upwardly over the surface of the fluid in said container and through said gas paths between said blades for entraining said fluid and mixing it with the gas of said current, said fluid container being cylindrical and having an uninterrupted inner surface and being surmounted by a continuous outwardly curved lip portion,v said fluid container causing coalescence of liquid particles which are drawn oil from the lip portion separate from the gas.

5. A liquid and vapor contact apparatus comprising a tower having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, a plurality of decks dividing the tower into a plurality of units, a fixed centrifugal device mounted in each deck comprising a cylindrical shell open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, a series of tangentially extending blades disposed circumferentially of said shell forming between the upper and lower end a series of .vapor passages extending vertically therebetween, means .for forming an annular liquid space at the lower ends of the passages, a surrounding imperforate internally uninterrupted cylindrical chimney having anoutwardly extending continuous lip disposed about the upper end thereof, means for admitting liquid to the annular liquid spaces at the lower ends of each centrifugal device, means for passing vapor through the vapor passages to entrain the liquid therein and means for conducting the liquid with entrained material from each deck.

"6. A liquid and vapor contact apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the liquid is introduced into the space between the tuyere and the chimney under a seal head substantially equal to the pressure difference between adjacent decks.

WARD J. BLOOMER. BRUCE R. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS Number Name Date 1,482,408 Piron Feb. 5, 1924 1,846,248 Clarke Feb. 23, 1932 1,894,744 Hawley Jan 1'7, 1933 2,189,491 Hawley Feb. 6, 1940 2,345,667 Hachmuth Apr. 4, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,560,077 July 10, 1951 WARD J. BLOOMER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5 line 10 for and second occurrence read anline 11 after 9 s s a 9 a curved insert hp;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of December, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oomz'm'mr of Patents. 

